Motif · from book 1

'Goddamnit, Donut'

Carl's involuntary catchphrase, said at least fifteen times before Odette makes him say it on air. Marks the moments the cat has done exactly what she was going to do.

First appears: Book 1

Series arc

Through book 4

Sand on a shoulder; 'Turn off your hole, Donut'; 'Thumbs, Carl! Thumbs!'; water breathing, not sand breathing (B4 ch. 1, B4 ch. 6, B4 ch. 31, B4 ch. 22).

Through book 1

Made a catchphrase by Odette (B1 ch. 28). Its function is unchanged: the cat has done what she was going to do.

Through book 2

Now Mordecai's too (B2 ch. 1), and the floor's last line (B2 ch. 25).

Through book 3

The exasperation runs through the floor: a new class chosen in six minutes and a Guinness skill that doubles her strength when drunk (B3 ch. 1); the purple mohawk she talks Katia into after Zev's verdict (B3 ch. 6); the Minion Army tome she reads because a shower buff gives her the mana — 'Don't be so pessimistic, Carl' (B3 ch. 16); and a fight she picks with Tserendolgor, a Dog Soldier with a flamethrower, in the middle of a siege (B3 ch. 31). Zev asks for the trademark line more often (B3 ch. 13).

Where they appear

Book	Chapters they are in (of the book's)	Where
1 — Dungeon Crawler Carl	15/48	8, 11, 15, 18, 20, 24, 27–28, 30, 33, 39–40, 44, 46–47 · the book's own page
2 — Carl's Doomsday Scenario	7/26	Ch. 1, Ch. 5, Ch. 13, Ch. 15, Ch. 17, Ch. 19, Ch. 25 · the book's own page
3 — The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook	6/35	Ch. 6, Ch. 16, Ch. 20, Ch. 21, Ch. 31, Ch. 33 · the book's own page
4 — The Gate of the Feral Gods	9/35	1–2, 6, 11, 14, 22–23, 29, 33 · the book's own page

By book

"Goddamnit, Donut" in book 1 — Dungeon Crawler Carl

First shouted at a llama (ch. 8), then at a cat on a garbage pile (ch. 11), at goblins (ch. 15), at babies (ch. 18), at a shopping cart. Odette plays a montage of fifteen and makes him say it on air (ch. 28): it is a catchphrase now, which Donut wanted from ch. 9. He catches himself halfway through it during the Jack recap — 'Not now' (ch. 39) — and it is the last line of ch. 44.

"Goddamnit, Donut" in book 2 — Carl's Doomsday Scenario

Mordecai's line now (ch. 1); shouted at Mongo (ch. 4, ch. 16); the floor's last words as Carl dissolves into the door without pants (ch. 25).

"Goddamnit, Donut" in book 3 — The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook

Mongo gets one (ch. 1); Donut's catchphrase advice earns another (ch. 6); the Minion Army tome (ch. 16); a fight with a dog soldier (ch. 31); 'That really worked for Carl.'

"Goddamnit, Donut" in book 4 — The Gate of the Feral Gods

Sand vomited on his shoulder (ch. 1); Elle's sayings and the AI's 'chuckleheads' (ch. 2, ch. 3); 'Turn off your hole, Donut' — 'You need to find a less offensive way to say that' (ch. 6); 'They're toads' (ch. 7); the Chariot named before it exists (ch. 4); Space Jam not making sense (ch. 28); 'Thumbs, Carl! Thumbs!' (ch. 31); 'water breathing, not sand breathing' (ch. 22); a betrayal worse than the danger dingo (ch. 23).